Brar is new IYC chief, launches protest against government

New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS) In an organisational revamp, the Congress Monday appointed Amrinder Singh Raja Brar as national president of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC).

Brar, who succeeded Rajiv Satav, MP, appealed to the Youth Congress workers to take on "anti-poor and anti-people policies" of the BJP-led NDA government, an official told IANS.

Accusing the BJP of having big corporate houses as its election sponsors, he also appealed to the workers to connect with the masses on ground and understand their grievances.

He said under the present government fascist and divisive forces were growing.

"The Modi government, which failed to deliver on any election promises, is to be exposed," he said.

Senior Congress leaders, including Sheila Dikshit, Salman Khurshid, Janardan Dwivedi, C.P. Joshi and Sachin Pilot, attended the function of Brar taking over.

Soon after assuming office, Brar, who is the 17th national president of the IYC, along with his party workers, led a protest march to the BJP headquarters shouting slogans against the government for taking ordinance route on important bills including the Land Acquisition Bill.

Several party workers were injured in the baton charge by police. The injured were treated at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

Police said over 2,000 members of the Youth Congress had gathered near the BJP office.

"The protestors tried to climb on the barricades and also raised slogans against the BJP. Policemen deployed outside the BJP office use mild force to control them," said a police officer.

At least 400 Congress activists, including Brar, were detained and taken to the Parliament Street police station. They were later allowed to go, the police told IANS.

Brar started his association with the IYC as a block president. In 2008, became Muktsar District Youth Congress President, and in the year 2010 he was elevated as the National General Secretary of the IYC.